Red Clay

An astounding multigenerational saga, Red Clay chronicles the interwoven lives of an enslaved Black family and their white owners as the Civil War ends and Reconstruction begins.

In 1943, when a frail old white woman shows up in Red Clay, Alabama, at the home of a Black former slave—on the morning following his funeral—his family hardly knows what to expect after she utters the words “… a lifetime ago, my family owned yours.” Adelaide Parker has a story to tell—one of ambition, betrayal, violence, and redemption—that shaped both the fate of her family and that of the late Felix H. Parker.

But there are gaps in her knowledge, and she’s come to Red Clay seeking answers from a family with whom she shares a name and a history that neither knows in full. In an epic saga that takes us from Red Clay to Paris, to the Côte d’Azur and New Orleans, human frailties are pushed to their limits as secrets are exposed and the line between good and evil becomes ever more difficult to discern. Red Clay is a tale that deftly lays bare the ugliness of slavery, the uncertainty of the final months of the Civil War, the optimism of Reconstruction, and the pain and frustration of Jim Crow.

With a vivid sense of place and a cast of memorable characters, Charles B. Fancher draws upon his own family history to weave a riveting tale of triumph over adversity, set against a backdrop of societal change and racial animus that reverberates in contemporary America. Through seasons of joy and unspeakable pain, Fancher delivers rich moments as allies become enemies, and enemies—to their great surprise—find new respect for each other.

©2025 Charles B. Fancher (P)2025 Blackstone Publishing

Good story, strong characters

I enjoyed this story a lot, gave me a somewhat different perspective of the aftermath of slavery. I disliked that one seemingly great character turned out to be not so great!
I also felt like by the end, the narrator was somewhat overemphatic, over enunciating as though having a difficult time speaking a characters name. For example, especially when having to say “Felix said” at the end of a passage, it was clipped and stressed to a fault.

Great book

Full of depth and historical content. I really enjoyed the story as it shows how when people come together they can really change the narrative and future. Also helped me to better understand the beliefs and ideology around racism and white supremacy. I would really recommend this book given the time we are living in.

Amazing!

I would have to say this is the best book I have read all year! I have read some pretty good ones but this book was so amazing I listened again as soon as I was finished just in case I may have missed something! lol. to say this is his first novel the author did a wonderful job. I must say I am truly sad this book has ended!

Excellent Read

The narrator was great and added a nice touch to an awesome storyline. This book gave historical information in great detail, which allowed me as the reader to actually envision life during this time period. Not only do I recommend this book, but I am sure that I will revisit it again at a later date.

The story line was captivating. I enjoyed the story and the learning about the different characters

Loved this book. Great story and the characters were so interesting to read about. The author was a great storyteller who made the story so interesting and unique